Letter of Intent Day
I haven't followed as closely as in years past but
today is letter of intent day for college football...
Florida will probably end up with the top class, but
SC could (and should) be a very good #2. They rank all
these players based on star ratings and for about the
4th year in a row SC will have the highest average
star ranking around. The only thing really holding our
class back is a lack of scholarships to be given out.
Anyhow, the big news is that SC landed "the next
Reggie Bush" Joe McKnight. He's about the 4th "next
reggie bush" to come around in the past few years but
he's got a pretty sick combination of skills. He's
from deep in LSU territory so it's a pretty big get
for SC. LSU fans are gonna be pissed. He's a great
kick/punt returner, rb, wr and he could probably be
the top corner in the nation as well. ESPN has had 3
different #1 ranked prospects this year... Jimmy
Clausen (goin to ND), Marc Tyler (rb, going to SC),
and Joe McKnight (current #1 and heading to SC). On
another service the #1 prospect in the nation is
Everson Griffen... a DE from Arizona, who's also
headed to SC.
I won't bore you guys w/a big lowdown but here are the
highlights...
Aaron Corp QB Orange Lutheran: He's a running/passing
qb and he was California Player of the Year (not Jimmy
Superstar err Jimmy
Clausen (he's kinda hated by the SC
fanbase for A. not choosing SC and B. making a
complete spectacle of his announcement to attend Notre
Dame... he announced by pulling up to the college
football hall of fame in a limo and holding an
enormous press conference... it was like he was
announcing that he was Jesus Come Again.
Joe McKnight RB John Curtis HS: Versatile talent. Fast
but not track fast. He's not as fast as reggie bush
but he is a very fast player. He's also about 6'0" 195
already. He's gonna be a stud wherever he plays and
he'll likely play early at SC. Ironically in hs he was
used a ton as a decoy. His senior year he only had 45
carries... despite being one of if not the best big
play threat in the nation.
Everson Griffen DE Agua Fria HS: His nickname is the
"superfreak" cuz he's got ridiculous athletic skills.
He basically can't be stopped on the hs level. Once he
develops some pass rush moves he's going to be
unstoppable. He's 6'4" 265 right now and he could
seriously play running back in college. His hs
highlight tape shows him playing rb and he's the
fastest guy on the field... AND he's got moves. He's
an incredible athlete. If you ask me he's the kid in
this class with the most likelihood to have an impact
early on simply because he's a rare athlete.
Chris Gallipo LB Servite HS: Best LB in the nation
coming into the most stacked and talented LB corps in
the nation. He committed to SC a year ago and he's
been one of if not our best recruiter. Quality kid
too. He's bringing two of his teammates to SC next
year (two of the best prospects in the nation) in DJ
Shoemate (home run threat at either rb or wr) and Matt
Kalil (6'7" 290 OL best OL in the west maybe this year
as well as next year). He was the first ever defensive
MVP of the Army All American game and he's just a
terror. He's gonna be a great LB for SC in 2 years.
Ronald Johnson CB Muskegon HS: One of the top 2 cb's
in the nation. He's from Michigan and not many SC fans
thought we really had a shot at him (he may end up
playing WR for SC). SC lost out on a top local CB
Donovan Warren who really shocked everyone and chose
Michigan so Johnson for Warren is kindof a trade.
Johnson's regarded as the better athlete but the less
polished of the two.
Those are the big big ones, but there are a few other
really really good players (Marc Tyler is probably the
best rb prospecte in the nation but he had a badly
broken leg near the end of the year), a top DT,
another top RB, another top LB/FB type, etc, etc...
Anyhow, another great recruiting class for SC. There
are more names to announce soon so there MAY be a
surprise or two to come, but as of right now that's
what the class looks like. Good times.
[More at http://usctrojanfootball.blogspot.com ]
Other Sports News:
Brandon Rush,
Glen Davis,
Jarvaris Critten,
John David Booty,
Michael Goodnight,
Terrelle Pryor,
Daequan Cook,
Xavier Henry,
Jimmy Clausen,
Kevin Durant,
Ronald Steel,
Ty Lawson,
Dashonte Riley,
